The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 364: The First Lesson in "Science"
His Highness Colin moved into his luxurious suite, and Barrett, who had been busy all day, returned to his student dormitory.

He felt incredibly unlucky.

He missed a golden opportunity that fell right in front of him. If only he had swallowed his pride and shamelessly tried to get closer to Prince Colin back then.

People have probably forgotten about him by now.

The dormitories for prospective students are standard eight-person rooms with bunk beds.

The students living there came from all over the country, some from the neighboring Kingdom of Rhodes like him, and others from as far away as the Port of Saldo in the New World.

The environment here is crowded, but it also has a lively atmosphere. You can hear the noise from the dorm next door even with your room door closed, and you can even smell the cooking of porridge and cigars.

Did this guy not eat enough in the cafeteria?
And cigars...

What do these guys think Xuebang is?!

Barrett muttered to himself that he wanted to offer some advice, but he didn't know who to ask. So he reluctantly opened the thick book "Basic Theory of Magic" and poured his pent-up energy into the ocean of knowledge.

This book is said to be the essential path to becoming a sage.

He devoured every elemental symbol with great eagerness, but somehow, once the elemental symbol entered his head, it would turn into a sage, a professor or teaching assistant, occasionally a silver coin or a pair of white thighs, or a shovel for digging.

After swimming in the agonizing ocean for who knows how long, he finally raised his head with a frown and pushed over the textbook he had been holding up.

too difficult!
He thought becoming a trainee would pave a smooth road for him, but he never expected that he would just be standing under another tower, on a new starting line to continue running.

Maybe things will get better when I become a teaching assistant.

Just as he was daydreaming, his classmate from Porto Saldo suddenly opened his luggage and handed out candy to everyone in the dormitory.

It was a dark, black sugar, common in the New World. It tasted bitter at first, but after careful tasting, it had an unforgettable sweetness... just like the adventures of the past year.

Barrett took a bite and savored it slowly, finding the sweetness addictive, but he was too embarrassed to ask for another piece.

He thinks this thing must be very expensive, right?

So he couldn't help but ask.

"...I don't understand, your family is so rich, why do you still come to this harsh and cold place to suffer?"

It's a bit impolite to ask about a stranger's background, but it's commonplace for the blacksmith's son.

He has always been a straightforward person, as Phoenix and Leo both know.

The young man who seemed to come from a well-off family paused for a moment, then smiled gently. He didn't take it to heart and spoke casually to the other young men who were equally curious about his family background.

"Being rich... is not a big deal in the empire. My father was an ordinary citizen. He started as a shoemaker, then opened his own workshop, and finally used his savings to open a factory."

"And then?" a freckled young man poked his head out from the top bunk and asked curiously.

He had never been to the New World, but he had heard that it was full of gold, and that even a pig thrown on it could dig up a pile of gold coins.

"Later... the flames of hell reached there and burned our property to the ground. His life's work vanished, and the Empire did not compensate him. Instead, they diverted the construction materials that were originally intended for that place to a place called Drywood Harbor. I think it was General Hamelton, but I can't quite remember."

The young man shrugged.

Although the story behind it was cruel, his expression was nonchalant, as if he didn't care about such a huge loss.

Barrett's eyes widened, feeling a deep sense of pity for him, and he couldn't help but say something.

"By Saint Sith... those demons are utterly despicable."

"Yes, but scolding them won't help, will it?"

The young man, who came from a good family, nodded, then smiled and said...

"Fortunately, we had some savings, and my father had invested in some properties in the port of the Duke of Castellón, so we moved there as a family to live in seclusion. Just then, an accident caused me to fall from the roof. I was supposed to break my leg, but a gust of air caught me just before I hit the ground... I am grateful to Saint-Sis and to my enlightened father, who immediately decided to send me to the Academy for further studies."

“But you could have been living a comfortable life in the Empire, couldn’t you?” the freckled young man couldn’t help but say. “If I had any money, I would never have come to learn this stuff.”

Human lifespan is ultimately finite; even those of superior status cannot live forever, they can only live a little longer.

The pursuit of breakthroughs in one's soul level is more about using the arduous cultivation of this life to exchange for blessings in the next.

For example, even a bronze-level soul, if reincarnated into a "family of leeks," still has many choices.

If you reach the Silver rank, you can become a knight or mage, or at the very least, a chivalrous adventurer, or a child of a wealthy family.

However, people's joys and sorrows are not shared, and the well-off young man shook his head after hearing this.

“Some money… how much is considered rich? Perhaps, as you say, I can live a comfortable life in the Empire, but who can guarantee where I will be reborn in my next life? I want to climb higher, whether for my family or for myself.”

In any case, there are only two paths to choose from: go west to the New World, or go east to Xuebang.

Their family had moved back from the New World, and they couldn't go back to the old way, so they moved eastward.

At least it's safer here in Xuebang. I don't have to fight the devil on the front lines, nor do I have to rack my brains to deal with those officers who act recklessly just because the emperor is far away.

When the topic turned to reincarnation, the young men looked at each other, gradually losing interest.

That was a topic outside their field of vision; they didn't want to think that far ahead, at least not until they had made the most of their lives.

Barrett secretly mustered his strength, preparing to study a little longer before lights out, but just then he heard the dormitory supervisor's footsteps and arrogant roar outside.

"Silence! Shut your mouths and get under the covers!"

The young men, like ducks returning to their coop, hurriedly climbed onto their beds and lay down.

The same applies to Barrett.

He buried his head in the covers, enduring the dormitory supervisor's loud shouting, while cursing under his breath—

What are you trying to show off for!
Once I become a professor, I'll make you pay!

pity.

He overestimated his memory. Even if he did become a professor, he'd probably have completely forgotten about it by now.

But there's not much difference.

He could also vent this pent-up, inexplicable rage on the heads of his other apprentices.

……

The magic crystal lights in the dormitory were turned off, but the energetic young men didn't fall asleep so quickly.

My roommates were all whispering in bed, talking about life and their dreams, forming a close-knit circle.

Barrett didn't want to get involved in those childish topics, but he was still forced to listen for most of the night and didn't sleep well at all.

The next morning, still half asleep and ignoring everyone, he went alone to the efficiency-driven apprentice canteen and found an unclaimed seat.

A bread sprinkled with icing sugar flew automatically to his front, saving him the trouble of deciding what to eat.

He had just picked up the bread and taken a bite when he heard an excited shout from the side.

"...You'll never guess what happened! His Highness Colin is actually going to give us a lesson himself!"

Prince Colin's class?!
Barrett, who was biting into his bread, was so stunned that he almost dropped the bread he was chewing into his plate.

Why didn't anyone tell me?

He felt like a hyena with its eyes gouged out, lost in the vast snowfield.

Fortunately, fate smiled upon him, and the opportunity to change his destiny once again fell into his lap.

Barrett immediately perked up his ears and listened intently to the conversation in the small group next door.

Meanwhile, Kurs, who was showing off his "intelligence," saw that Ilana had looked up and noticed him, so he showed off even more enthusiastically.

"...I got this information from the teaching assistant. Apparently, his open class is starting this morning, later than usual! It's worth four credits, and there's still time to register. Although these four credits aren't very useful to us mages, they're quite useful for you prospective students! I heard his class won't be too difficult, and he's a very easy person to talk to. These four credits are practically free money!"

He took a breath and continued speaking.

"By the way, that prince is really generous. I heard that a teaching assistant only helped him with a short journey and received a magic crystal of good purity as a reward... Those things are not easy to buy in the market; you have to put a bounty on them at the Adventurers' Guild."

"Oh? That sounds interesting." Ilana's eyes flickered slightly, and a rare look of curiosity appeared on her face.

Finn looked at Kurs with bright eyes and asked excitedly.

"What does Your Highness intend to teach us?"

Kuers smugly beckoned the kid closer and uttered a novel word, emphasizing each syllable.

"science."

Finn paused for a moment, and Ilana looked at him with a strange expression, seemingly puzzled.

"what is that?"

This question stumped Kurs. He only knew that Prince Colin planned to teach the apprentices himself, but he really didn't know what kind of science the prince was going to talk about, so he could only guess.

"Uh... I guess it's some kind of profound theory originating from the Imperial Court, probably an abbreviation of 'His Highness Colin's Theory.' Whether it's useful or not, the credits are real. If you're curious, you might as well go and listen... I plan to take a look when I have time."

“Colin’s theory…” Finn murmured to himself, his eyes filled with longing for the prince he had never met.

In his view, being able to name a doctrine after oneself was something only legendary sages could do. "Then let's go take a look," Ilana said succinctly, gently stirring the milk in her glass with a small spoon.

That was her original plan, but she didn't expect that prince to be so approachable, and she didn't expect the opportunity to come so quickly.

Not far from their table, a certain "King of Rolls" named Barrett could no longer sit still.

He devoured the food on his plate like a whirlwind, then sprang up from his chair and dashed out of the cafeteria.

Like an isolated island, he couldn't hear the full conversation on the other side, but keywords like Prince Colin, open courses, lecture halls, and four credits still hooked into his ears.

Becoming a respected professor was his sole obsession. He would never let go of any opportunity to climb the ladder, or any piece of knowledge that might allow him to stand out!
A raging fire burned in his eyes—a fire of ambition and desire.

"It's not too late to register now!"

More than just registration—

He also wanted to try and get a seat near the front!

Barrett wasn't the only one with the same idea; they were everywhere in this "spacious yet cramped" dining hall.

Everyone was excitedly discussing "science," even though they didn't really know what science actually was.

But no matter what, there's always a chance that the seeds you sow will germinate.

And so, this unfamiliar and mysterious new word spread rapidly like a plague in the unseen shadows beneath the tower...

……

Prince Colin's class was still ten minutes away from starting, but the huge lecture hall was already bustling with activity, almost out of control.

This is one of the largest lecture halls in the school, with tiered, crescent-shaped seating that can accommodate 500 students at the same time.

However, at this moment, at least a thousand people have crowded in here, and the number is still increasing.

Not only the prospective students who hadn't yet been assigned to the mage tower, but also senior apprentices and mages poured in in droves. They squeezed together with acquaintances, or simply sat on the ground in the aisles.

Even in the shadows of the back row, you could see several graduates who had already obtained their "magician" status and were preparing to leave the school or stay on.

These self-important high achievers now looked at him with scrutiny and curiosity, wanting to see what made this new mentor so different.

The seats were already full, and Barrett realized in despair that it was no use arriving early; there was always someone who had arrived before him, and even the passageway on every step of the stone steps was full of people.

However, he was still lucky, because the corridor was soon crowded with people.

Using his senior status, Kurs carved a path through the vast sea of ​​people, escorting Ilana to a relatively forward position like a chivalrous protector, while Finn was given a ride along because of his sweet talk and diligence.

As an "apprentice helping the admissions office teaching assistants," Kuers's influence wasn't always effective, but there were also those willing to fawn over him.

Ilana thanked the classmates who were squeezing in for them, while Kurs complained about the stuffy air and tried to straighten his wrinkled robe.

When the time came, the side door of the classroom was pushed open, and the noisy voices instantly quieted down, turning into whispers of excitement or anticipation.

Guided by a teaching assistant, His Excellency Prince Colin arrived on time.

He wore a well-tailored dark academic robe, without any fancy ornaments to show his status. He was calm and composed, with a gentle and refined demeanor, as if he were born to belong to this academic hall.

Upon seeing that face, Ilana froze for a few seconds, her breath catching involuntarily for a moment.

Kurs glanced at her furtively, his eyes instantly becoming alert. When he looked at Prince Colin again, his gaze was no longer just one of admiration, but also mixed with a hint of jealousy, hostility, and a sense of unease.

Finn's expression remained largely unchanged; this simple young man only wanted to climb the tower of academia.

Barrett, standing in the corner, was excited and clenched his fists, but unfortunately he couldn't move his hands, otherwise he would have definitely raised his arms and waved them a couple of times.

Who knows, His Highness Colin might recognize him—the one who once held a warhammer and protected him!

Unfortunately, there are already too many excited people here; one more won't make a difference.

For example, the teaching assistant following behind His Highness had an eager expression written all over his face.

He had fought hard to win the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant for this esteemed prince, a chance he had won from among dozens of competitors!

He straightened his back, trying to appear as professional as possible, at least not to disappoint His Highness in terms of etiquette!
Soon, he noticed the chaos inside and outside the classroom. These undignified young men and women had actually squeezed their way from the classroom into the corridor!
If they really wanted to attend His Highness's class, they should have learned about it earlier and registered in advance, instead of waiting until the class was about to start before coming here to join the fun.

He strode to the heavy oak door of the classroom and prepared to close it.

However, just as his hand was about to touch the cold brass door knocker, a hand gently pressed on his shoulder.

"No need to close the door, just leave it open."

Before anyone knew it, Luo Yan was already standing behind the teaching assistant.

He didn't look at the teaching assistant, but instead cast his gaze across the room, taking in every young face filled with longing, nervousness, and curiosity.

The voice was clear and gentle, not very loud, but enough to quiet the entire noisy classroom.

The teaching assistant was stunned and turned around to look at His Highness, who was acting unpredictably, with a puzzled expression.

"But Your Highness, what if they disturb your sacred class..."

“What is sacred is not the classroom, but every soul that seeks knowledge. How can we shut out children who yearn for progress for the sake of some vague sense of authority? It’s a pity I don’t have the ability to build ten thousand mage towers, otherwise I would definitely put them all in, instead of letting them crowd into the corridors.”

Luo Yan smiled kindly, looked at the stunned teaching assistant, and continued.

"It is my honor that they are willing to listen to my teachings. Let them listen, and I trust that they will not interrupt me at inappropriate times."

The noise inside and outside the lecture hall indeed subsided, and pairs of eyes stared at him in disbelief, as if gazing at a candle flame flickering in the darkness.

They were all people who had fought their way to earn the right to sit here, and no one had ever said anything so unorthodox to them before.

'The sacred thing is not the classroom, but every soul that seeks knowledge.'

'It's a pity I don't have the ability to build ten thousand mage towers, otherwise I would definitely put them all inside, instead of cramming them into the corridors.'

For the first time, pure surprise flashed in Ilana's eyes. She stared at the tall and upright prince on the podium, and for the first time, she was not moved by his face, which was nothing but handsome, but by something else—such as his noble soul.

Kurs curled his lip in disdain, but Finn, the junior sitting next to him, was so excited that his face turned red.

Stepping on a cockroach wasn't enough for him to feel the greatness of Xuebang, but the thunder he heard in silence made him realize for the first time that he hadn't come to the wrong place.

The same goes for Barrett.

His fists clenched and unclenched unconsciously, and his tense shoulders relaxed along with them.

He encountered setbacks everywhere he came to this tower, experiencing the coldness of human relationships and the bewilderment of having no relatives or friends. However, it was the first time he was treated as a "seeker of knowledge," to the point that he almost forgot why he had come to this place in the first place!
It wasn't just the innocent young men and women whose hearts were stirred; even Skyein, who was hiding in the crowd wearing a mask, felt a moment of hesitation.

His eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth slightly agape, as if a thunderbolt had struck his heart, splitting open the softest part of his defenses.

Looking at the younger students around him, a sense of envy suddenly welled up in his heart.

Pity……

If only His Highness had stood before him when he first stepped into this ivory tower, instead of Professor Hector, who believed "the staff is truth."

He will probably retain that scholarly purity and explore what truly interests him.

He may not become a great professor, but at least he won't let a noble soul be tarnished. It has nothing to do with happiness or pain; it's simply that as human beings, we should live like human beings.

But it's too late to say all this now.

Given the dirty work he had done and the darkness he might encounter in the future, there are only two possibilities if he is not reborn into a pigsty in his next life: either Saint Sis was too merciful, or he finally "climbed ashore" and became a great professor.

Sgain didn't know why that prince's casual remark had stirred up so many inappropriate feelings in his heart.

He gently shook his head, refocused his gaze on the notes spread out on the table, picked up his quill pen, and prepared to listen attentively.

This was the task Professor Alistair had given him.

He had to play the role of a diligent and inquisitive student, approaching the refined, easy-going, and amiable prince in the most harmless manner.

"Then let's begin."

Luo Yan shook the lesson plan in his hand, or rather, the script he had prepared for "Prince Colin," and spoke on the podium in a voice that was not loud but extremely clear.

“I’ve named this class ‘Science,’ but before we begin, I don’t want to tell you what science is, because you will have your own answers.”

"The first lesson I will teach is about 'light'."

Under the watchful eyes of countless curious people, he gently placed a prism on the podium and then waved his magic wand.

An inconspicuous beam of light fell upon the completely transparent prism, much like a scene that took place nearly four hundred years ago at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, England, on another planet.

It wasn't some magical spell or some profound technology, but it was one of the starting points of the Enlightenment.

Xuebang uses an insurmountable tower to force these children to grovel at their feet.

And he wanted to make them stand up—

Right there in the shadows beneath this tower!
“I’m sure many of you know illumination magic, or even can do it effortlessly.”

“But I bet none of you have ever thought that ‘light’ can be dissected.”

(End of this chapter)